HIV Risk Behaviors among a Sample of Young Black College Women

ABSTRACT

Statistics show that African American women account for 64% of all HIV/AIDS cases reported in 2005 compared with White women (19%) and Hispanic women (15%) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2005). Typically, HIV/AIDS research focuses on prevention for high-risk minority women and men who have sex with men (MSM), while young Black college women are ignored as a risk group. This study examined factors that influence HIV risk behaviors among a sample of 189 young Black women aged 18–24 from a Historically Black University. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires that asked about their condom use with either a boyfriend or casual sex partner in the preceding 12 months, as well as their substance use and condom use self-efficacy. Results indicated that the type of sexual relationship in which the participants' were involved and their self-efficacy are positively associated with their condom use. Substance use was negatively associated with condom use.

Keywords:

• African Americans
• condoms
• HIV/AIDS
• self-efficacy
• sexuality
• substance use
• young Black college women

The author thanks Dr. Jerry Cates for his time and effort in reading and rereading the rough drafts of this manuscript. The author also thanks all of the participants of this study who took time out of their busy schedules to complete the questionnaire. A very special thank you is given to everyone who helped support completion and submission of this article. This study was part of a larger dissertation study.

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Binta Alleyne

Binta Alleyne, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Social Work at Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago.